Anna Valdez’s artistic career began unexpectedly: during an archaeological dig, she found herself keeping a sketchbook in which she reinterpreted spaces, maps, and lived experiences. With an academic background in archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology, she earned her MFA in painting in 2013. She now works across a variety of media including painting, ceramics, printmaking, collage, and digital media. In her work, she considers the notion of collective consciousness and the traditions and visual symbols of a community. “I am working on various narratives that investigate my own traditions and history through a visual format,” she says. In addition to her own store of memories, Valdez looks to her immediate surroundings, family photographs and recipes, and “vague stories” for the subjects of her work. Recurring motifs in her work include patterned objects, masks, and veils.